>>West Nile Cases on the Rise
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is reporting a notable increase in West Nile virus activity this summer, with 20 confirmed cases and two deaths so far. Infectious Disease Epidemiologist Elizabeth Schiffman says the department is currently investigating another 50 reports, which she notes is typical for this time of year. However, the volume of reports is higher than usual. The two individuals who died were both men over the age of 60—one from the Twin Cities metro and the other from western Minnesota 2. The virus has been most active in western and central Minnesota, particularly in open areas such as farmland and prairie, which are ideal habitats for Culex tarsalis, the primary mosquito vector. Health officials emphasize that most people infected with West Nile virus experience no symptoms or only mild flu-like illness. Still, less than 1% develop serious complications such as encephalitis or meningitis.
>>Minnesota School Funding Restored
(St. Paul, MN) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has announced he has secured an agreement from the Trump Administration to release education funding that was being withheld. Ellison says the full balance of money coming to Minnesota schools should arrive no later than October 3. Last month, Minnesota joined a coalition of states that sued the Trump Administration, arguing that freezing funding for programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education was unconstitutional and unlawful. This means Minnesota will get the full $74 million in funding. Ellison says, “When Minnesotans pay their federal taxes, we expect that money to come back and support our schools.”
>>Stillwater Chosen to Host 2026 Governor’s Fishing Opener
(St. Paul, MN) – Governor Tim Walz will be staying a little closer to home for the 2026 Governor’s Fishing Opener. The governor has announced that it will be held in Stillwater on the St. Croix River from May 8 to 9 next year. This will be the first time Stillwater has hosted the fishing opener. The Governor’s Fishing Opener dates back to 1948, and the event was designed to promote the development of Minnesota’s recreational industry, serving as a kick-off celebration for the summer tourism season.
>>Indivisible Twin Cities Protests at MN State Fair
(Falcon Heights, MN) — Indivisible Twin Cities, a grassroots volunteer group for civic engagement, is protesting at the Minnesota State Fair throughout its entirety. The group says small teams of members are gathering in the street directly in front of the G-O-P booth to “bring attention to the harm that the Big Beautiful Bill Act is causing.” They say the response so far has been “overwhelmingly positive,” with many fairgoers taking pictures of the red shirts being worn, which read “That’s Not Fair! G-O-P Tax Cuts for Billionaires.”
>>Serial Domestic Abuser Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison
(Minneapolis, MN) — A serial domestic abuser will spend over a decade in federal prison. Ronnie Shaka, a forty-four-year-old man with a long and violent criminal history, including eight prior felony convictions, was sentenced after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm. Court documents say on November 2nd, 2023, Shaka threatened his pregnant girlfriend and her baby with a ghost gun to prevent her from leaving the house. A search of the home turned up five firearms, two of which were ghost guns equipped with switches, and a large quantity of magazines and ammunition.
>>Minnesota Twins Announce 2026 Schedule
(Minneapolis) – For the second straight season, the Minnesota Twins will play their earliest Opening Day game ever, as the team announced its 2026 regular season schedule. The Twins will open next season on March 26 against the Orioles in Baltimore. The previous earliest opening day game for the Twins was this season, when they opened on March 27. Next season’s Home Opener will be Friday, April 3, against the Tampa Bay Rays.
>>Minnetonka Police Launch Drone Responder Program
(Minnetonka, MN) — The Minnetonka Police Department is taking to the skies with a new tool to improve emergency response. On Monday, the department launched Minnesota’s first drone-as-first-responder program. Six rooftop drones are now ready to deploy within minutes of a 911 call, providing live video to officers before they arrive on scene. Officials say the goal is to reduce response times and provide first responders with better information in real-time. The city is also emphasizing transparency. Every drone flight will be logged and made available to the public through an online dashboard. The program costs approximately $265,000 per year, and city leaders say it’s a wise investment in both safety and efficiency.
>>2 Bloomington Schools Recognized for Positive Behavior
(Bloomington, MN) — Two Bloomington Public Schools are being recognized by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) for continued Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS). Indian Mounds Elementary School and Bloomington Transition Center (BTC) are being considered Sustaining Exemplar schools in the state for meeting the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students. This is Indian Mounds’ third recognition for the award.
>>Woman Who Called Child Racial Slurs in Viral Video Charged
(Olmsted County, MN) — A woman who called a Somali child racial slurs at a Rochester park faces three charges. A video of the incident went viral in April, sparking outrage nationwide. The Rochester City Attorney’s Office says Shiloh Hendrix will be charged with three counts of disorderly conduct. Officials say the complaint has to be reviewed and approved by a district court judge, but the matter “involved a large amount of evidence.”
>>Minnesota Wild Foundation Distributes More than $1.3 Million in Grants
(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Wild Foundation has announced it is distributing more than $1.3 million to a large number of nonprofits and organizations throughout Minnesota. The Wild thank their generous fans, donors, and community partners through grants and raffles on game nights. The grants include $125,000 to Children’s Minnesota and over $61,000 to the Minnesota Youth Hockey Associations. Minnesota Wild Foundation Board Chair Scott Peterson says the impact of these donations is made possible by the continued support of Wild fans every year.
